Manifolding device



April 21, 1931. .1. s. FLEMING MANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed May 18, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENJTOR. a V

BY WW ATTORNEYS.

April 21, 1931.

J. S. FLEMING MANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed May 18, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 KM/A? gVI EIYTOR. r9 BY ATTORNEYS.

April 21, 1931- J. s. FLEMING MANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed May 18, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 01W X115)? VEN TOR. BY I ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 21, 193 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE JOHN STUART FLEMING, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO,

CANADA, ASSIGNOR, BY IM'ESNE AS SIGNMENTS, TO NIAGARA FOLD, IN (3., OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW YORK MANIFOLDING DEVICE Application filed May 18, 1927. Serial No. 192,246.

This invention relates to equipment adapted for use in effecting manifold inscription, whether by autographic Writing or by a writing machine, such as a typewriter, and with respect to its more specific features, to the transfer material equipment.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a practical packet or block of transfer sheets in which superposed transfer sheets are at all times and in all positionspf the packet firmly attached together in superposed relation, so as to be readily shifted as one, the transfer sheets at all times being held in spread-out condition and adapted freely to receive therebetween the record strips on which the records are to be made by manifolding, the transfer sheets being restrained from bodily movement in their own planes relative to each other, however the packet may be shifted and during the intervals between the making of records at differ; ent shifted positions on the record strips, the packet at all times being adapted for freely being shifted from one writing position to another, or for having the record strips shifted relative thereto.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device for facilitating multiplicity of manifolding operations which may or may not require the use of a platen.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a packet embodying certain features ofthe invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing record strips in manifolding relation.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but upside down, and slightly modified.

which these sheets exposed in their upper surfaces. The several Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a illustrating further modification.

Figs. 5 and 6 conventionally illustrate the invention as applied to a typewriting machine in one way, and i Fig. 7 illustrates typewriter application slightly modified.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of zigzag pad of record strip with which the transfer packet may be employed, an

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the transfer packet associated with the form of zigzag pad illustrated in Fig. 8.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the numerals l'each indicate a separate transfer sheet as, for instance, the carbon or carbon sheet, in use for transferring inscription from one record strip to another record strip, in a manifolding manpacket,

ner. The coating of transfer material on the sheets 1 is on the under surface of each of said sheets, so that the body paper, of are usually composed is transfer sheets 1 are supported in superposed relation to each other and to a flat supporting membersuch as the platen2, which platen 1s also', adap-ted to serve as a shoe, and the said plate-n and the set of transfer sheets are attached and firmly held together so as to be transportable, manipulable, and shiftable, as one.

Asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the transfer sheets 1. are attached together at each of two of their opposite sides by lines of stitch- ,ing 3 and 4. Between these lines of stitching the transfer sheets are unattached to each other and are adapted to permit the paper record strips 5 (Fig. 2) on which the inscription isto be made, freely to pass between the transfer sheets. One of the record strips which is to receive the original inscription will lie above the uppermost transfer sheet 1 and is indicated at 6. To admit of clearer illustration,.said uppermost transfer sheet is broken off. v

For the purpose of assisting in retaining the original record strip 6 in close relation blage, or packet, of transfer sheets 1 is provided with a retainer guide or strip 7, the

original record strip 6 passing between the retainer strip 7 and the uppermost transfer sheet 1. If desired, an additional retainer strip similar to the strip 7, may be provided at the opposite end of the packet. Other guide strips may be provided below in order to support sheets 5 passing through, and giving the further advantage of separating the sheets 5.

By the arrangement described there is provided a packet, or block, of firmly attached, relatively superposed, transfer sheets, which is always in condition to have the record strips nterleaved with the transfer sheets in manifolding relation, and which may be shifted back and forth upon long continuous record strips, and to any position in which it is desired to make a manifold inscription, whether autographically or by machine, such as a typewriter, the platen or supporting shoe 2 always shifting with the transfer sheets and always being in operative position.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the element 2 serves not only as a platen, but also as a protective shoe for the under face of the packet, and. especially for the lowermost transfer sheet 1, being adapted to pro tect the bottom of the packet against surface marring, abrasion, tearing, rum 31mg, and the like, which might follow from. sliding shifting of the packet on the supporting surface on which it rests. It will be observed that the element 2 also serves as a support or a supporting shoe for the assembly of transfer sheets sustaining them in smooth extend ed position at all times in such a. manner as to promote correct functioning of the assembly and to insure the best possible transfer inscription.

In Fig. 3 a slightly modified form of packet is illustrated, the view in this instance being upside-down so as to disclose the bottom face of the packet. It will be seen that the arrangement in Fig. 3 is similar to that in Figs 1 and 2, except that the bottom supporting shoe 8 corresponding in position and function to the shoe 2, is in the form of a supporting frame having a central opening exposing the underlying record strip 5. The frame 8 also provides a shoe along with which the packet may be shifted without abrasion of the transfer sheets. The aperture or opening 9 in the frame 8, exposes the lowermost record strip, or in its absence, the lowermost transfer sheet. Hence, under proper conditions, this packet of transfer sheets may be used along with other and separate transfer sheets, if desired. It will be understood that the illustration in the drawings is largely diagrammatic. The paclret of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, including the supporting shoe or platen 2 or the frame or shoe 8, is scarcely thicl-rer than the assemblage of transfer sheets. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the stitching 3 and 1 may be of wire or thread, and the transfer sheets lie one on top of another without intervening separa tors, although such separators may be used, as will hereinafter appear.

In Fig. 4 a still further modification of the transfer. sheet packet is illustrated, the constrriction therein disclosed including special features of invention adapted to provide for a more extensive and practical use of the transfer packet. In Fig. 1, the transfer sheets are attached in superposed relation to each other and to the platen or shoe 2 through the instrumentality of transfer sheet retainer strips 10, 11, 12, and 13, at; the opposite sides of the transfer sheets.

In the embodiment illustrated, the retainer strips 10, 11, 12 and 18 are similar and consist of thin strips extending longitudinally of the platen 2, these strips being suliiciently wide so that unco-ated marginal areas of the transfer sheets 1 may overlap the retainer strips and be attached to the under surfaces of the retainer strips by spots or lines of paste or other suitable adhesive, as indicated at 14 and 15. Outside the pasted edge of the lowermost transfer sheet the lowermost retainer strip 11 is pasted to the upper face of the platen 2 by a line of paste indicated at 16. The next superposed transfer sheet 1 is pasted to the retainer strip 10, but in this instance it is preferred to paste the outer margin of the strip 10 to the upper face of the strip 11, as indicatedat 17. It will be understood that the retainer strips 12 and 13, at the opposite side, are similarly pasted to each other, to the transfer sheets 1, and to the platen 2, as just explained in connection with the strips 10 and 11. Also it will be understood that any desired number of transfer sheets may thus be attached together and to the platen 2. As in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, record strip retainer guides 18 may be employed, corresponding to the retainer guides or strips 7. The guides 18 may consist of strips pasted to the upper faces of the sheet retainer strips 10 and 12, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Lilac. the packet of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the record strips 5 are adapted freely to pass between the transfer sheets 1 of the construction illustrated in Fig. 4, and the original record strips (5 will be engaged under the retainer guides 18. Besides serving to attach the transfer sheets together and to the platen or shoe 2, the retainer strips 11 serve to space the adjacent superposed transfer sheets 1 from each other at their margins, rendering it easier to string or thread the record stlips in the intervals between the adjacent transfer sheets. It will be noted that in each of the constructions illustrated, the front and rear edges of the superposed transfer sheets are unattached to each other except at their side margins, so

that they are readily separable for the introduction of the record strips.

By the construction described, the record strips 5 may readily be inserted between the transfer sheets at one edge of the packet and emerge or be drawn out at the opposite edge and thereafter the packet, assemblage, or set of superposed transfer sheets may be shifted at will along the record strips into any desired position for inscription, this shift movement being possible in either of opposite directions, the arrangement readily providing for shift movement of the transfer sheets while the record strips are stationary, or vice versa, or both the transfer s eets and the record strips may be shifted simultaneously. It will be seen that the set of attached transfer sheets are strung on the record strips so as selectively either to be shifted relative to the record strips, or to have the record strips shifted relative thereto.

In each of the embodiments illustrated all the parts may be made of relatively thin strips or sheets of paper, although other materials, such as metal, wood, celluloid, and the like, maybe used. The platen 2 may consist of a sheet of paper as, for instance, card-board or kraft paper;-which is relatively thick as compared with the record strips and has some resilience. The retainer strips, 10, 11, 12 and 13 may also be composed of card-board or kraft paper. Under certain conditions of use the paper platen or shoe promotes manipulation of the packet and the opera ion of manifolding to better effect than were it made of some other material as, for instance, a hard material like celluloid, wood, or metal. But it is to be understood that the platen or shoe 2 ma be composed of such other materials un er conditions wherein advantage might be gained.

In the embodiments illustrated the platen or shoe 2 is of rectangular shape and provides a support to which the several transfer sheets are attached in superposed relation to each other and for being held in operative position to the record strips and while being shifted from one to another writing position. This supporting shoe extends across and at each of the opposite sides 19, 20, 21 and 22 of the centre 23, of the main body, or writing area, of the transfer sheets 1, and the attachment of the sheets. to the supporting shoe as, for instance, in the manner before explained, serves to hold the writing area of the transfer sheets in generally flat, spread-out condition at all posithi ps and during shifting of the packet, thus 111 a measure'tensioning the transfer sheets. The underlying paper record strips 5 being, as it were, strung on the packet between the separate transfer sheets, are maintained in operatively close relation to the record strips, although sliding movement relative thereto is permitted.

" The record strip retainers 7 or 18' are thus inscribing relation,

shiftable with the platen or shoe 2 and co operate to guide and retain the uppermost record strip in operative manifolding osition. The record strips may be supplied rom one or more rolls,-or from the zigzag folded pad oflong continuous strip, diagrammatically shown in Fig. 4 at 25. Each of the record strips is provided with a series of similar printed forms 26 adapted to register with each other, so that inscription made upon an outermost printed form may be manifolded in the same relation on the underlying printed forms of the other record strips. The manifolding packet of superposed attached transfer sheets above referred to may be supported alongside the packet of record strips and, having been strung on the record strips in-the manner before explained, may be shifted into operative manifolding with succeeding forms, or the record strips may be advanced relative to the packet. Havin inscribed on'eset' of printed forms, and shifted the packet to the succeeding set, the inscribed set may be torn off alon the weakening lines 27 which are provide therefor. The paper platen affords a sufiiciently resistant surface for cooperating to obtain manifold inscription and also is relatively soft, as is usually. preferred when inscription is made autographically, as would be the case under these conditions. Thewidth of the transfer sheet packet need only be such as to permit passage of the record strips with sufficient play to permit easy shifting. When all the frame parts of the packet are composed of light weight material such as paper, a convenient device is thereby provided for manifolding a large number of records in one writing and one which may be readily transported, and is relatively inexpensive.

Instead of providing for shifting the transfer sheet packet on the record strips by hand,

the record strips may be shifted relative to the packet by a strip-shifting member as, for instance, by the rotary platen of a typewriting machine. Fig. 5 conventionally illustrates the platen portion common to many Well-known forms of typewriting machines. The frame of the typewriting machine is indicated at 30. The numeral 31 indicates the platen carriage which reciprocally shifts in letter-spacing direction. Mounted on the carriage 31 is the rotatable generally cylindrical platen 32, which is adapted to serve as a record strip-feeding or record stripshifting member. The record strips are in dicated by the numerals 5 and (3. as in the other figures of the drawing. The rotary platen 32 is supported on a vertically movable shift frame 33 for accommodating it for different case-lettering, as small letters and capitals. The printing type bar of the typewriter is indicated at 34. Shiftable up and down with the platen is a transfer sheet the Home and illlfily plat n is sunans'ler sheet of the v record strip between y platen 32. l t hei aper prom ary platen e rotary etlicient p platen is made the p the rot he tpe red bottom t outer rotar shoe or ity of with pression so that the an ported hv th t t the meter illustrat iclicetecl in hi til 36 indicatct correspondran. "er sheets 1 meter sheet sfer sheets, seine; in

these tr the ltlltl to PlJJ to the en port generally sinli 4, this packet be Y the numeral .35,

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ips at th ansfer s tendenc sni etl the invention so made t as the D he ty the ordinary recortl strips n nt l t tl in the liery platen by t 1 1 3' al l the thickness for t feetl h typewri ry pl Fi liary pl ill be :en g. 7 (l aten e5, but W str the tr hence th displaced rela niecheni int 21y l i; g a 1 such of t stance, in 1 pencle desire I strips he i my 1nd held stri s cont d platel "Writer, transfer sheets 0 ion of auxilia hown in unxi It w Fi aten of a t liable transfer b feat Cl'litDlC the margins f tee 1e ed to Ll Ll The "he s L tllG dis ') flAW D Kill 3 L Cu lllilv 113 til it L flllL ll Ll tion Wit telas of 1] clean; 1

ache (l n Willi s einplo n from from 0 attach The sp 5 point show undei l e auxi be of th the bott the platen, h position the a platen alongsi that the recorn )lemen transfer 50 sion on t rate and When this l frame is frame may be the same as illustrated in Fig. 5, reference is made to the latter figure in illustration of the attaching device.

In the modified pad illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the record strips are superposed relative to each other and zigzag folded as in Fig. 4. But at one end of this supply pad the difi'ercnt folds of the strip 50, which is the bottom of the manifold copies, are hinged together so as to provide folded leaves working one on another much like the leaves of a book. To effect this hinging one end face 51 of the packet is brushed over with paste, the superposed turns of the strip. 50 being thus joined by an area. of paste or other suitable adhesive 52 so as to hinge the turns together.

At the side 53 adjacent the face 51 the leaves of all the strips are bonded together by an area of paste 54, which retains the leaves together and restrains them against lateral movement relative to each other. The attachment of the leaves at the area 54 is such that it may readily be broken so as to permit the strips to unfold and to be moved relative to each other. When the frame 8 having the opening9is employed with the zigzagpad of Fig. 8, the open frame 8 will lie on or above the record strip 50, as illustrated in Fig. 9; whereas the other record strips of the zigzag pad will be above the frame 8 with the transfer strips in such relation as to transfer inscription from the original strip 55 t0 the duplicate strip 56 and, through the opening 9, V

to the strip 50, which latter is the one having its folded leaves hinged together at 52. As the frame 8 is shifted along between the record strips the advance edge 57 of the frame 8 and the advance edge 58 of the frame guides or strips 59 act as tools to break the bonds .at 54, thereby disconnecting the so bonded strips from each other at the area 54, leaving the two upper strips free for manipulation. But the hinging at 52 will not be broken. Should paste at area 52 penetrate suiiiciently to cause the strips 55 and 58 to adhere to the strip 50, it will be also broken and the diiferent strips disconnected by the advance edges of the frame 8 and the frame guides 59. in order that the more delicate transfer sheets 60, which are shiftable with the frame, may not be injured, their edges 61 are in rear of the edges 57 and 58. When used with the bonded strips of Fig. 8, the frame 8 and the guides 59 should be relatively stiff so as to provide for parting the strips where they are bonded.

Thus by the above described construction.

are accomplished, among others, the objects hereinbefore referred to.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction, and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention and also to cover all intermediate variations of the scope thereof.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. -A manifolding device including, in combination, a supporting shoe, a plurality of transfer sheets in superposed relation to each other andto said supporting shoe, a plurality of transfer. sheet-retainer. strips in superposed relation to each other, pasted to each other and to said supporting shoe, said sheetretainer strips being pasted to uncoated areas of said transfer sheets, respectively, and one or more strip-retainer strips carried by and shiftable with said supporting shoe.

v 2. A manifolding device, including, in combination, a strip-shifting member, of generally cylindrical shape, a platen and a transfer sheet, said platen and transfer sheet being attached together in superposed relation to each other and adapted to receive therebetween a record strip adapted to be shifted by said member, and means adapted to retain said platen stationary as said' member is shifted.

3. A manifolding device including, in combination, a strip-shifting member, a transfer sheet, an auxiliary platen removable from operative position, said member disposed and adapted selectively to serve as a platen in the place of said auxiliary platen, said auxiliary platen and transfersheet being attached together in superposed relation to each other and adapted to receive therebetween a record strip adapted to be shifted by said member, and means adapted to retain said platen stationary as said member is shifted.

4 A manifolding device including, in combination, a plurality of transfer sheets in superposed relation to each other, and a supporting shoe to which said sheets are attached for being held in operative position to record strips passing between said sheets, said supporting shoe extending across and at each of the opposite sides of the writing area of said sheets, and adapted to hold said writing area in enerally fiat spread-out condition, the attac iing'means between said supporting shoe and sheets including retainer strips to which said sheets are pasted respectively, said retainer strips being pasted to each other.

5. A manifolding device including, in combination, a rotatable platen, a transfersheet supporting shoe, relatively superposed transfer sheets attached to and held-in spread out condition by said supporting shoe, a shift frame on which said platen is mounted and gripper jaws carried by said shift frame, said sheet-supporting shoe movably engag ing said gripper jaws for adjustment longitudinally of the rotative movement of said platen and supporting said sheets at the printing point relative to said rotatable platen.

6. A manifolding device including, in combination, a plurality of transfer sheets in superposed relation to each other, a record strip retainer positioned to expose the writ ing area of the outermost of said transfer sheets and to guide an original record strip into contact with said outermost transfer sheet, said retainer being positioned on later mentioned shoe to form therewith a passageway for shift movement therein of sai original record strip, and a shoe to which said transfer sheets are attached at two opposite sides of the active transfer areas of said transfer sheets so as to hold said sheets in spread-out condition and provide intervals between said sides for passage of record strips, said retainer being attached to said shoe.

7. A manifolding device including, in COITP bination, a plurality of transfer sheets in superposed relation to each other, a record strip retainer positioned to expose the writing area of the outermost of said transfer sheets and to guide an original record strip into contact with said outer iost transfer sheet, said retainer being positioned with ref erence to later mentioned platen to form therewith a passageway for shift movement therein of said original record strip, and a platen to which said transfer sheets are attached at two opposit. sides of the active transfer areas of said 1: sheets so as to hold said sheets in spire it condition and provide intervals betwc passage of record seri s, said re attached to said platen,

8. A manifolding bination, a plurali superposed relation to each which said transfer to be held in vide intervals betw' sage of record strips, ing atthched to said s the active transfer a?" to hold said sheets in s said shoe having bonc advance of the free en. sheets and so as to ex" record strips.

9. A inanifolding combination, a supper transfer sheets in s each other and atts shoe so to he and a plurality o.

i-vr relation to each other,

pasted to each other shoe.

10. A manifolding device including, in combination, a supporting shoe, a plurality of transfer sheets in superposed relation to each other and attached to said supporting shoe so as to be held in spread-out condition and a plurality of transfer sheet-retainer strips in superposed relation to each other, pasted to each other and to said supporting shoe, said sheet-retainer strips being pasted to uncoated areas of said transfer sheets, re-.

spectively.

11. A manifolding device including, in combination, a supporting shoe of thin sheet material, a plurality of transfer sheets in superposed relation to each other and to said supporting shoe, attaching stitching passing through said supporting shoe, attaching the sheets and shoe together, said attaching stitching extending along two opposite edges of said transfer sheets and shoe and along opposite sides of the active transfer area of said sheets so as to hold the sheets in spread out condition, at least one continuous passageway being provided between adjacent transfer sheets between said opposite attaching stitching for the passage of a record strip, said supporting shoe and the attaching stitching between said sheets and shoe being flexible so as to permit bending of the manifolding device to conform to a curved longitudina-l path,

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

FLEMlNG. 

